GRAMMY MusiCares MAKES ITS MARK
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine NolanAll throughout the year, GRAMMY makes their presence felt in more than just the world of music awards. In fact, this coming Thursday, May 31st, the organization known as MusiCares Foundation will host the eighth Annual MAP Fund Benefit Concert.
Good deeds never go unnoticed and this foundation offers programs and services to members of the music community for some of the most basic living expenses such as rent, utilities, medical expenses and even emergency financial assistance. Nationwide educational workshops are offered covering a multitude of subjects such as substance abuse issues, financial and legal aid and more. For the good of those in need, they partner with healthcare professionals to offer flu shots, hearing tests and medical/dental screenings. The MusiCares MAP Fund allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community.
This upcoming concert will honor ‘Alice In Chains’ co-founder, Jerry Cantrell, and certified interventionist and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Senior Consultant, Neil Lasher, at Club Nokia in Los Angeles.
Cantrell will receive the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award for his support of The MusiCares MAP Fund and for his commitment to help other addicts through the addiction and recovery process.
Lasher will receive the MusiCares’ From the Heart Award for his unconditional friendship and heartfelt dedication to the mission and goals of the organization.
During the event, there will be a special commemoration to launch the DJ AM Memorial Fund in honor of the late Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein. Goldstein battled substance abuse for a number of years but recognized his issue, took responsibility and sought help to come clean. He was one of the greatest DJ’s of all times and his love relationships included Nicole Richie and then later Mandy Moore. He was one of the only survivors of a plane crash in 2008 but suffered burns on his hands and parts of his head. This perhaps lured him back into the world of pain killers and addiction which became his ultimate demise in 2009 at the young age of 36. Today, between the passionate GRAMMY Organization and Adam’s mother, Andrea Gross, other individuals will benefit from this assistance in providing much needed resources to help free musically inclined individuals from the stigma and challenges that come with substance abuse. All it takes is care and love to see the light at the end of the tunnel and to know that you are not alone.
The benefit will be hosted by television personality and stunt performer, Steve-O. Some of the performances that the audience will be treated to will include those from ‘Alice In Chains’, Billy Idol and his band and Nancy and Ann Wilson of ‘Heart’.
DJ for the evening will be the artist known as ‘Moby’.
It is sure to be a memorable evening raising funds for a cause that deserves more awareness and undoubtedly more education of the masses.
For MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit concert special dinner and concert ticket information, go to wynniew@grammy.com or call Wynnie Wynne at (310)-392-3777. General admission seats are available at Ticketmaster.
PHOTO CREDITS: www.grammy.org, Google Images, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Kevin Mazur/WireImage
